Canada coach: 'We got more passion than USA'

Mar. 10, 2013
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Pitcher Alfredo Aceves, right, of Mexico is held back by coach Larry Walker of Canada during an on field altercation between both teams in the World Baseball Classic. / Christian Petersen, Getty Images

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX -- Larry Walker, the former three-time batting champion and National League MVP, told USA Today Sports that Team Canada has much greater passion to win Sunday's final pool game of the World Baseball Classic than Team USA.

"We got more passion than USA, and we got more passion than anyone in this tournament,'' said Walker, Canada's hitting coach. "Just look at us and the way we play. It's the Canadian way. Ask (Canadian manager) Ernie (Whitt). He's an American. He'll tell you the same thing. It's what we see.

"We even represent our country during BP (batting practice). Look at us the way we get or bunts down. Guys go a little left wing to right wing, trying to knock in a goal. We're getting our passes in.''

If Canada beats Team USA to advance to the second round of the WBC, Walker said, would be the greatest victory in Canadian history.

"We beat USA in 2006, and the Pan-Am games were big,'' Walker said, "but the buildup for this one, after what happened (Saturday), would make it more satisfying. The U.S. had to win. We had to win. Bam, here we are. It's got a lot of meaning for both clubs.

Team Canada was buoyed by the outpouring of support back home triggered by their full-scale brawl with Team Mexico. It was called a "black eye'' for baseball by Whitt, but perhaps the best thing to invigorate interest in the tournament by virtually everyone else.

"I didn't want to stay that (Saturday),'' Walker said. "I don't condone fighting, but it certainly puts a different flare into it. If you don't think guys are passionate and don't want to win this thing, that was a prime example of what it means. You don't go around and drilling people because you don't give a (crap). They all care man, they want to win.''

The Canadian players said they were stunned at the interest their brawl generated in Canada, which even further raises the stakes of Sundays' game.

"Guys commented on how it went viral in Canada,'' Walker said. "It was like, 'Holy Christ, you guys, we go your back. We're behind you. It's not your guys' fault. They invited us into that mêlée, and we obliged.'''

The World Baseball Classic council issued a statement Saturday night that no players in the brawl would be suspended from the rest of the tournament, but Walker still was angry that Mexico third baseman Luis Cruz of the Dodgers was not ejected for telling his pitcher, Arnold Leon, to purposely hit Canadian hitter Rene Tosoni. He was even more enraged at Mexico outfielder Eduardo Arredondo, the most aggressive player in the brawl.

"He was throwing sucker punches and running like a chicken,'' Walker said.

The Canadians were still infuriated by the brawl when they reached their hotel Saturday night, and realized they were sharing the same hotel as Team Mexico. Hotel officials designated separate elevators for each team.